For example, if you leave your house then your lights will turn off, the air conditioner will be lowered, your pet’s food bowl filled, and the security system activated. The individuals, companies and corporations that facilitate this smarter future will be the ones to thrive and prosper. Put another way, if you embrace how the IoT will create more triggers (the “ifs”) then you’ll appreciate how IFTTT can create more that’s—in the form of desired actions.
2.
A Plethora of New Business Models.
The convergence of the Internet and social networking platforms have created a number of new businesses and business models in the “shared economy” space—think Airbnb, ZipCar and Uber—but the IoT will place this revolution into hyper-drive. Sensors on automobiles, lawnmowers, and in spare bedrooms will make it even easier for would-be consumers to know near-by products are available for rent, and soon—thanks to sensor-based indoor positioning systems such as iBeacon—it will become even easier for these micro-entrepreneurs to accept micropayments. Longer term, in a world where even your clothing is embedded with sensors, expect entrepreneurial fitness coaches to use the information to keep athletes and exercise enthusiasts physically engaged and motivated throughout the day. Also, insurance and healthcare companies may soon request the right to monitor your daily movements in exchange for the promise of lower insurance rates or health premiums—provided your activity level meets their thresholds for the discounted rates.
3.
A “Smarter” Transportation Debate.
In legislative halls around the world countless elected officials, lobbyists and concerned citizens are debating whether governments should devote more public resources to the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges to facilitate an auto-centric vision of the future or whether public resources should instead be allocated on buses and mass transit systems. This debate will continue to rage, but the IoT will enable a different—and smarter—discussion. In a world where automobiles are embedded with sensors and users have constant access to smartphones that can either easily locate people willing to share open seats in their cars (for the right price) or make their car available for rent for short periods of time, the number of people owning automobiles and overall usage may drop precipitously and negate the need for either more roads, buses or mass transit. In fact, in the not-too-distant future, many communities may find themselves “over-infrastructured” and they will begin converting excess parking lots into green spaces.
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img src: socialmediatoday.com
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